Stopper for waste disposal devices



y 5, 1954 D. w. GUSTAVESON STOPPER FOR WASTE DISPOSAL DEVICES Filed March 20, 1952 Inventor" David W. Gustaveson,

His Attorney Patented May 25, 1954 STOPPER FOR WASTE DISPOSAL DEVICES David W. Gustaveson, Bridgeport, Conn, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application March 20, 1952, Serial N 0. 277,590

This invention relates to apparatus for the disposal of waste material wherein garbage and other kitchen wastes are comminuted in the presence of Water and the resultant mixture flushed to the waste disposal system of the building. And While it is not limited thereto, this invention is especially useful in such disposals which are connected with the drain opening of a kitchen sink which opening serves as an in gress opening for the admission of the waste material and water to the grinding apparatus.

And this invention has as a general object the provision of a sink stopper for such an opening arranged so that it must be manually held in an open position while waste material is fed into the apparatus, and when released automatically moves to a sink drain position to provide an opening sufficiently large to pass water from the sink into the apparatus and thence to the drain for normal sink draining functions, but not suf ficiently large to permit the insertion of the waste material to be ground. In other words, in order to feed waste material to the operating machine, one hand of the operator must be used to hold the cover open and the other hand used to feed the Waste material to the machine, thus effecting a closure arrangement which is safe in that the operator is not likely to get one hand into the operating machine while it is functioning. This cover arrangement is espe- 4 Claims. (Cl. 241-325) cially applicable to those machines of relatively small waste material and storage capacity where little material can be fed into the machine prior to its operation, necessitating a continuous feed of the material, so to speak, while it is operating. Moreover, the stopper may be moved to a position in which it completely stops the opening to provide for the accumulation of water in the sink for normal sink functions.

Briefly stated, in accordance with this invention, a stopper is provided for the opening having a stopper element insertable into the opening. The stopper element is connected to the apparatus so that it may be moved both to a partially open water passing position so that water may be drained from the sink and to a sealing position, all for normal sink operations. The connection means between the stopper element and apparatus also provides for the movement of the element out of the opening to clear it for the insertion of waste material. Bias means are provided which bias the stopper both to its partially open water passing position and back into the opening from its waste receiving position, the latter operation of the biasing means necessitating the manual holding of the stopper ele ment out of the opening by one hand, while the other hand of the operator is used in loading waste material into the machine.

My invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation view of waste food disposal apparatus embodying this invention, parts being shown in sections so as to illustrate certain details of construction; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the stopper construction embodying this invention and utilized in the waste food disposer of Fig. 1, and illustrating the stopper element of the stopper in its sealing position, Fig. 2 being drawn to a larger scale than is Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the stopper element in a partially open water passing position; Fig. 4 is similar to Figs. 2 and 3 but illustrates the stopper element removed from the opening to open it for the passage of waste material to the waste food disposer; and Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the stopper structure shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

Referring to the drawing, this invention has been shown in the one form as applied to a waste food grinder or disposal unit of the type such as used in connection with a kitchen sink. As shown in Fig. 1, there is a sink bottom I which is provided with a depressed circular flange 2 around a drain opening 3. The grinding apparatus comprises a housing 4 defining a vertically positioned chamber 5 extending below the drain opening 3. The grinder housing and associated parts are joined to the sink bottom I by means of a cup-shaped fitting 6 having a flange l at the top extending outwardly from the cup and which rests upon the sink flange 2. The housing i is attached to the cup-shaped member 6 by means of a circular flange 8 fixed to the member 6. Threaded through the flange 8 are a series of bolts 9 which bear at their upper ends against a web or annulus l0 which bears against the under side of the depressed flange 2 of the sink; these bolts function to clamp the member '6 to the sink. The lower ends of the bolts 9 are directed through apertures provided for them in an outwardly extending flange II on the upper end of the housing 4, which flange, and thus the housing, is secured by means of nuts i2 threaded on the bolts. Preferably, and as shown, there will be interposed between the top edge of the housing 4 and the flange 8 a gasket or seal 3 l3, and likewise there will be interposed between the web and the bottom of the sink flange 2 a fiber cushioning gasket M, the gasket l3 functioning as a seal, and also to decrease the transmission of the vibrations from the grinding unit to the sink.

The cup member 6 constitutes an entrance opening for the chamber 5; that is, the two members 5 and 6, in efiect, may be construed as a single element defining a grinding housing having an upper entrance opening thereto. Thus the chamber 5 of the grinder housing 4 receives the waste material to be ground and a quantity of water mixed with it through the cup-shaped member 6. At the bottom of the grinder housing is located grinder means of any suitable construction such for example as described and claimed in United States Patent No. 2,577,152

to J. H. Powers, dated December 4, 1951. The material which is ground or comminuted, mixed with the water flowing through the machine, drains out of a discharge opening I5.

The stopper arranged in accordance with this invention includes the cup-shaped member 6.

While the cup may have an opening through it of any suitable shape, preferably itwill be circular. The stopper structure also comprises a cover [6 formed of any suitable sealing material, preferably nonmetallic, such as rubber. As shown, it is of generallydisk form; and at its periphery it is formed with an inturned flange ll. This member I6 is fitted over the top surface of a stopper [8 shaped like a disk so that its flange l'l fits about the edge of the disk to hold the member onto it. Projecting from the top surface of the disk at its center is an operating knob l9 secured to the disk in any suitable fashion as by means of a rivet 2c. The disk including the cover which constitutes the stopper ele ment is arranged to seat in a reduced section 2! at the bottom of the cup which section is connected with the remainder of the cup by means of an inclinedsection 22'; that is, the section 21 has a diameter somewhat smaller than the diameter of the remainder of the cup above it. And when the sealing element is positioned so as to engage the side wall ofthe reduced section 2i as shown in Figs. 1' and 2, the resilient member [6 is somewhat compressed andforms a tight seal with the cup by frictional engagement with it.

The stopper element is secured to the cup through the medium of -a split ring member 23- which is somewhat resilient so as to constitute a snap ring. This member is arranged to seat inthe bottom of the reducedsection 21- which at its lower end is provided with an inturned flange 24 upon which the ring seats. When thering is placed down in the cup so as to seat on a the ring 24 it expands outwardly byits inherent resiliency so as to engage tightly the cupand hold the stopper assembly in position in the cup. The stopper assembly is attached to this ringshaped member by means of a link 25 which has one end, its right-hand end as viewed in the figures, pivotally attached to the ring by means of a pin 26 having its ends journalled in the ring, as clearly shown. The link 25 extends toward the left under the bottom surface of the stopper element and is sufiiciently long to extend to a point adjacent the opposite edge of the stopper element from the pivotal connection 26. latter end of the link is pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the plate I8 by means of earsZl which depends from the plate and to 4 which the arm 25 is pivotally connected through the medium of a pin 28.

It will be observed that the link 25 is so proportioned that the stopper element may be tilted upwardly from its closed position of Fig. 2 to a partially open position of Fig. 3 which opens the opening through the cup sufficiently far to permit liquids to drain from the sink and into the chamber 5; this opening is established between the right-hand edge of the disk and the adjacent side wall of the cup member 6, as shown. It is also proportioned so that the stopper may be completely removed from the cup member, as shown in Fig. 4. Thus the stopper element and the link may be pivoted upwardly and toward the right from the position of Fig. 3 to the position of Fig. 4 substantially to open the opening through the cup for the admission of waste material into the grinding chamber 5. It will be understood, of course, that such manipulations of the stopper will be by means of the manually operable knob [9.

The link 25 and hence the stopper element attached to it are biased to return from theiropen position of Fig. 4 to return these elements into the cup member by meansof a coiled spring 29 coiled around the shaft 26 and having its two ends anchored respectively to the link 25- and to the snap ring 23. In other words when the link 25 is moved clockwise from its position of ig. 2 to its position of- Fig. 4, itwinds the spring up on the shaft and tensions it so that the spring exerts a biasing force tending to return the elements into the cup.

A second biasing means in the form of a coiled spring 36 wrapped upon the pin 28 is provided to bias the stopper element to its partially open position of Fig. 3. To accomplish this bias, one end of this spring, as shown, is anchored to the link 25 and the other endso bent as to hold stopper element tilted to a partially open water passing position.

It will be observed in view of the foregoing that in the operation ofthe device when one wishes to use the sink as such while the grinder 4 is not operating, it may be used to seal the sink by depressing it into its position of; Fig.2,- and that it may be used-to drain the sink bygrasping the knob l9 and moving it to itspar tially open position of Fig. 3.

material into the grinder.

Now if it be desired'to operate the grinder, a;

suitable switch or other control element for the grinder (not shown) will be manipulated to start its operation, and then the knob is will be grasped by one hand and operated to move the stopper;ele-

the waste material into the grinding chamber 5;.

Since both hands are occupied in feeding the waste material into the grinder, it is impossible for one to insert his hand into the grinder while it is operating. After the waste has been fed into the chamber 5, and the knob l9 released, the

stopper is moved automatically into its position of Fig. 3 for passing water for the grinding operation, and where it acts as a guard during the grinding operation.

It will be observed that the split ring 2 3- may be placed in any angular position withrespect-toits opening which issuitable to the operator, this has not been possible with most of the st'oppers.

Also.

used heretofore with grinding machines. the whole stopper assembly may be readily with- As pointed out previously in the latter-position of" the stopperelement, it is impossible to insert waste food drawn for cleaning and to permit the operator to retrieve any object inadvertently dropped into the chamber 5.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and. scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and" desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A closure device for waste grinding apparatus of the type having a receptacle with comminuting means therein for comminuting waste material and with a wall forming an aperture for the admission of waste and Water to the receptacle comprising a stopper element for closing said opening, resilient means connected to said element biasing it to a partially open position to permit the passage of water through said opening, means coacting between said element and said wall for holding said element in a sealing position in said opening against the force of said biasing means, means interconnecting said element and said receptacle providing for its removal from said openin to provide for the admission of waste into said receptacle, and biasing means coacting With said element biasing it back into said opening so that it must be held manually in it removed position.

2. A closure device for waste grinding apparatus of the type having a receptacle With comminuting means therein for oomminuting waste material and with a wall forming an aperture for the admission of waste and water to the receptacle comprising a stopper element for closing said opening, a link pivotally connected to said stopper element and to said receptacle providing for the swinging movement of said stopper element with respect to said link from a sealing position with respect to said opening to a partially open water flow position, and providing for swinging movement of the link and stopper element with respect to said receptacle to permit the stopper element to be moved out of said opening for the insertion of waste material, and biasing means coacting with said link and stopper element biasing said stopper element to said partially open position and said link to hold said stopper within said opening.

3. A closure device for waste grinding apparatus of the type having a receptacle with comminuting means therein for comminuting waste material and with a wall forming an aperture for the admission of waste and water to the receptacle comprising a stopper element for closing said opening, a rigid link, a pivotal connection between one end of said link and said receptacle adjacent one edge of said stopper element and extending across the bottom of said stopper element so that its other end is adjacent the other edge thereof, a pivotal connection between said other end of said link and said stopper element, the two pivotal connections providin for pivotal movement of the stopper element from a closed position with respect to said opening to a partially open water passing position inclined to said closed position, and also providing for the removal of said stopper element as a body from said opening to open it to the admission of waste material to said receptacle, a spring coacting between said other end of said link and said stopper element biasing it toward said inclined partially open position, and a second spring coacting with the said one end of said link and said receptacle biasing the link and stopper element into said opening away from the removed waste receiving position thereof.

4. A drain closure for a sink drain opening having waste grinding apparatus associated therewith comprising a cylindrical cup-shaped fitting definin said opening, a disk-shaped stopper for closing said opening, an annular resilient member secured to the periphery of said stopper and arranged to sealingly engage said fitting when said stopper is moved to its closed position, a split ring removably seated in said fitting, a rigid link, a pivotal connection between one end of said link and said split ring adjacent one edge of said stopper and extending across the bottom of said stopper so that its other end is adjacent the other edge thereof, a pivotal connection between said other end of said link and said stopper, the two pivotal connections providing for pivotal movement of the stopper from a closed position with respect to said opening to a partially open water passing position inclined to said closed position, and also providing for the removal of said stopper as a body from said openin to open it to the admission of waste material to said apparatus, a spring coacting between said other end of said link and said stopper biasing it toward said inclined partially open position, and a second spring coacting with the said one end of said link and said split ring biasing the link and stopper into said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 219,712 Gilbert Sept. 16, 1879 424,784 Henkel Apr. 1, 1890 645,749 Kasschan Mar. 20, 1900 2,244,402 Powers June 3, 1941 2,348,093 Pasman May 2, 1944 2.450392 Donahue Sept. 28, 1948 

